First published 1970. Arrow paperback, 1981. pp 210 c.50,000 words. What if we could use some device to transport us, and anything else, instantly to wherever a receiver had been set up? Harrison explores the possibilities of this notion in a set of otherwise unrelated stories, from the founding of the idea through to the […]
One Step From Earth — Harry Harrison Read More »
First published 1988. Grafton paperback, 1988, pp 301, c.95,000 words. This is the sequel to Dayworld (which I haven’t read) but it stands well enough on its own. It explores one of the dominant themes of mid-twentieth century science fiction – what will happen if the world gets over populated (although the current global population
Dayworld Rebel — Philip Jose Farmer Read More »
First published 2020. Atlantic Books paperback, 2021, pp313, c.70,000 words. This is a Scott of the Antarctic or a Titanic of a book: a magnificent try in so many ways, but ultimately a failure. I had high hope for it as the predecessor of MacInnes’s superb In Ascension, but the later coheres where this does
Gathering Evidence — Martin MacInnes Read More »
First published 1989 (USA title Buying Time). New English Library paperback, 1990, pp300, c.90,000 words. This is an exploration of one of science fiction’s common themes – life extension. What changes would such an invention bring about? In this case, the life-extension treatment requires very extensive surgical intervention and is therefore necessarily expensive. The process
Long Habit of Living, The — Joe Haldeman Read More »
First published 1969. Hamlyn paperback, 1978, pp176, c.62,000 words. At first glance this is a straightforward science fiction ripping yarn, but underneath there is an exploration of the impact of a planet very like Earth but with very little accessible metal resources. How would technology develop under such circumstances? The development of Earth’s civilisation is
Grimm’s World — Vernor Vinge Read More »
First published 2023. Atlantic paperback, 2024, pp 496, c.100,000 words. This is one of the very best modern books that I have read. The beauty and subtlety of the language shines out from first to last, and so much contains what Hilary Mantel called ‘a wobble in every sentence’: the true nature of human communication.
In Ascension — Martin MacInnes Read More »
First published 1981. Futura paperback, 1983, pp 430, c.115,000 words. The opening of this book reminded me of the Jody Foster film Maverick, where a group of gamblers are heading to a big tournament. However this story doesn’t have the sharp wit of that film. Somehow the book doesn’t quite work: the excitement is remote,
Dream Park — Larry Niven and Steven Barnes Read More »
First published 1971. Panther paperback, 1978, pp 188, c.63,000 words. It seems strange now, but there were real fears about the consequences if the population explosion that happened after the second world war continued. Science Fiction writers of the golden age of the 1950s to the 1970s frequently addressed this issue with stories of gross
World Inside, The — Robert Silverberg Read More »
First published 1975. New English Library paperback, 19797, pp 157, c.52,000 words. This is the third part of six books all set in the same future, one where, centuries ago, the people of ‘Old Earth’ spread through the galaxy, seeding it with technology for faster-than-light travel, but for which the current inhabitants have lost the
Under a Calculating Star — John Morressy Read More »
First published 1968. Sphere paperback, 1983, pp 192, c.60,000 words. This story is set in Earth’s Third Cycle – sometime in the far future when the high-technological achievements of the Second Cycle have been lost owing to catastrophic hubris. It is a highly inventive world where a reduced human population has become split into specialist
Nightwings — Robert Silverberg Read More »